Air Cooled Horticulture Lighting Fixture with Flow Disruptor

Solution Overview

Problem

Horticulture light fixtures face challenges in efficiently cooling high intensity double ended HPS lamps in confined indoor spaces, as they are sensitive to moving air and require a sealed environment to prevent excessive electrical current draw and gasket material degradation from UV and IR light.

Innovation Solution

An air-cooled horticulture lighting fixture design that uses a cooling chamber with a flow disruptor to enhance turbulence and prevent moving air from entering the reflector, combined with a gasket protection mechanism to maintain a constant temperature and prevent light damage, ensuring efficient heat transfer and sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If forced air cooling is used to remove heat from the fixture, then heat removal efficiency is improved, but the double ended HPS lamp draws excessive electrical current which may cause failure or shutdown of the ballast

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixture heat removalVSAvoidlamp operation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fixture is divided into two separate sealed chambers: a first sealed chamber containing the double ended HPS lamp with stagnant air for optimal lamp operation, and a second sealed chamber for forced air cooling of the fixture. This segmentation allows independent optimization of lamp performance and heat removal without interference between the two functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A reflective barrier is positioned between the lamp and the cooling air stream to prevent direct interaction between moving cooling air and the lamp. This intermediary structure allows heat to be removed from the fixture while maintaining the stagnant air environment required for stable lamp operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the fixture is sealed to protect the lamp from moving air, then lamp efficiency is improved, but heat removal becomes difficult in confined indoor spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelamp operation stabilityVSAvoidfixture heat accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The fixture is divided into two separate sealed chambers: a first sealed chamber containing the double ended HPS lamp with stagnant air for optimal lamp operation, and a second sealed chamber for forced air cooling of the fixture. This segmentation allows independent optimization of lamp performance and heat removal without interference between the two functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A reflective barrier is positioned between the lamp and the cooling air stream to prevent direct interaction between moving cooling air and the lamp. This intermediary structure allows heat to be removed from the fixture while maintaining the stagnant air environment required for stable lamp operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If gasket materials are used to seal the fixture, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but UV and infrared light energies from the lamp degrade and make the gasket materials brittle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal integrityVSAvoidgasket service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A reflective barrier is positioned between the lamp and the cooling air stream to prevent direct interaction between moving cooling air and the lamp. This intermediary structure allows heat to be removed from the fixture while maintaining the stagnant air environment required for stable lamp operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

A glass sheet is used as a light-resistant sealing element at the bottom of the fixture, replacing traditional rubber or neoprene gaskets that would degrade from UV and infrared exposure. The glass sheet provides durable sealing while being resistant to light degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively maintains the double ended HPS lamp's efficiency by preventing excessive current draw and extending its lifespan, while providing a reliable air-tight seal and improved light performance by isolating the lamp from moving air and using a heat-resistant gasket.

Implementation Method 1

A cooling air stream is disposed through the cooling chamber between the first duct and the second duct

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

A flow disruptor is disposed in the cooling chamber between the first duct and the second duct

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 3

A stagnant air space is provided around the double ended HPS lamp that is substantially sealed from moving air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS9888633B1Air cooled horticulture lighting fixture

Publication Date: 2018.02.13 HGCI LLC

AI summary

An air cooled horticulture lamp fixture for growing plants in confined indoor spaces. The fixture substantially seals the lamp and heat generated thereby to a reflector interior. A flow disruptor diverts moving air away from an aperture in the reflector through which a lamp bulb socket protrudes into the reflector interior, and the flow disruptor creates turbulence in a cooling chamber thereby enhancing thermal transfer into a cooling air stream that flows over and around the reflector's exterior side thereby convectively cooling the fixture using the reflector as a heat sink.